Book Shops of London

During our recent trip to London, we stepped into Waterstone’s at Trafalgar Square. It was big, beautiful, and inviting; a paradise for book-lovers. We traipsed inside, ready to be astonished, as we had already been by the beautiful and varied London sites leading up to this one. We are a family of four, and we … More Book Shops of London

Greek Week: A Culinary Adventure

This past week has been ‘Greek Week’ at our home. Every night we’ve tried out a new Greek dish in an attempt to escape to this beautiful island-rich country. Our minds have been educated and entertained, while our bellies have been filled with Greece’s finest dishes, all made with plants (since half of us are vegetarians). … More Greek Week: A Culinary Adventure

Book Review: I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys

Many years ago I lived in Romania for 16 months as a young American volunteer. It was in the mid-nineties; communism (as it only shortly before existed in Romania) was a thing of the past, but its shadows still loomed large. Huge, half-built ‘hunger domes’ — that had been intended as neighborhood mess halls — … More Book Review: I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys

Introduction to Finland in 5 Books

Perhaps because of its pristine landscape, or the tendency of its residents toward verbal restraint, Finland has an understated national character that has kept generally out of the international limelight. However, this largely forested country has much to offer in the way of culture and literature. Its language has developed since ancient times, and now represents a growing literary entity on the world stage. … More Introduction to Finland in 5 Books

A Sampling of Sardines

Two years ago, during his last trip to Lisbon, Val made the following social media post: “TODAY in Lisbon: An amusement park for canned sardines. (This is not a joke!) “I came across this unusual shop, ‘O Mundo Fantastico da Sardinha Portuguese,’ which literally means ‘The Fantastic World of Portuguese Sardines.’ It’s located on one … More A Sampling of Sardines